Congress Slams Attack on Sambhaji Brigade Chief, CM Confirms Arrests

The Maharashtra Assembly erupted in debate on Monday over the violent attack on Pravin Gaikwad, state president of the Sambhaji Brigade, in Solapur’s Akkalkot on Sunday. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar labeled the assault a “murderous attack,” demanding stringent action against the perpetrators, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the arrest of the accused and assured appropriate measures.

Gaikwad, a prominent Maratha leader, was manhandled and doused with black ink by members of the Shivdharm Foundation while attending a felicitation event organized by Fattesingh Shikshan Sanstha and Sakal Maratha Samaj. The attackers, led by Deepak Kate, a BJP Yuva Morcha secretary, protested Gaikwad’s alleged remarks on Swami Samarth, a revered 19th-century saint, and his use of “Sambhaji” instead of “Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj” for his organization’s name. A viral video captured Gaikwad being pulled from his car and assaulted, with his vehicle vandalized.

Wadettiwar, raising the issue in the Assembly, alleged a political motive, noting Kate’s BJP affiliation and criminal history, including illegal firearm possession and a prior jail term for his cousin’s murder. “Why was there no police presence at the event? Where was the intelligence?” he questioned, accusing the state of failing to protect progressive activists like Gaikwad, whom he compared to slain rationalists like Narendra Dabholkar. Gaikwad himself called the attack a “conspiracy to kill” him for his Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar ideology, holding Fadnavis, who oversees the Home portfolio, accountable for security lapses.

Also Read: BJP Distances Itself from Assault on Sambhaji Brigade Leader

Fadnavis responded that police had detained Kate and six others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for rioting, though they were later released after receiving notices. He assured the House of further action, while Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule denied party involvement, condemning Kate’s actions and stating, “An accused is an accused, regardless of affiliation.”

Opposition leaders, including NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule and Congress’ Harshwardhan Sapkal, demanded charges under the Public Safety Act, warning of escalating tensions in Maharashtra’s Maratha community. The incident, reflecting deeper cultural and political divides, has intensified calls for accountability and robust law enforcement.

Also Read: BJP Distances Itself from Assault on Sambhaji Brigade Leader